HS2 signs up for initiative to recruit more BAME employees

HS2 has signed up to an initiative designed to improve employment outcomes for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) employees in the UK.

The £100bn project has signed up to business in the community’s race at work charter. 

HS2 non-executive board member Judith Hackitt has been appointed as board diversity champion to scrutinise HS2’s equality, diversity and inclusion performance.

The project will be required to adopt the charter’s five key principles.

These include appointing an executive sponsor for race, capturing data and publicising progress and ensuring zero tolerance of harassment and bullying.

The other two requirements are making equality in the workplace the responsibility of all leaders and managers and taking action that supports ethnic minority career progression.

Hackitt said: “HS2’s supply chain will extend out to thousands of British businesses over the next decade, so this is a genuine opportunity for us to play a leading role in the implementation of measures that truly ensure BAME employees are fairly represented and have equality of opportunity to thrive in the workplace.”

With main construction works on the project set to start this summer, HS2 is currently recruiting for hundreds of roles across a broad range of disciplines and is actively encouraging applications from BAME communities.

The organisation has an online platform where potential applicants can sign up for a skills match assessment.